Stringed musical instrument



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STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Feb. l5, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V ENTOR.

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TTOQA/E 54 June 5., 1956 n J, W. MCBRIDE STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 15, 1952 INVENTOR. toH/v W MCBQ/DE,

United States Patent() STRNGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT John W. McBride, Burbank, Calif., assignor to Bantar,

Incorporated, Burbank, Calif., a corporation of California Application February 15,1952, Serial No. 271,737

7 Claims. (Cl. SLi-"315) This invention relates to musical instruments having one or more tensioned strings, such as banjos, guitars, or mandolins.

In Such instruments it is customary to provide a series of frets, arranged beneath the string, against which the strings may be pressed by the fingers. In this manner, the free vibrating length of the strings and the tone corresponding thereto may be chosen by the player.

This application is a continuation-in-part of an application filed on August 10, 1951, in the name of John W. McBride, under Serial Number 241,359, and entitled Stringed Musical Instrument.

It is one of the objects of this invention to make it possible to adjust the free vibrating length of the string without delicate finger manipulation.

It is another object of this invention toy make it possible to adjust the free vibrating length of the string by a simple manipulation, by hand or foot, whereby the instrument may be successfully operated even by the physically handicapped.

To accomplish this result, use is made of rollers that engage the strings and are movable by manipulation of a lever, or the like. Such manipulations may be made by the palm of the hand, or by a foot.

It is another object of this invention to improve, in general, instruments of this general character.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an instrument of this character that is simple in construction, but yet effective in operation.

This' invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of several embodiments of the invention. For this purpose, there are shown a few forms in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. These forms will now be described in detail, illustrating the general. principles' of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed descrip -Y tion is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a musical instrument incorporating the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side sectional view, taken along the plane indicated by line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View, taken along the plane indicated byline 3-'3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view, partly in section, taken along the plane corresponding to line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan view' of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view, taken along the plane indicated byline 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an elevation, partly in section, illustrating a further modified form of this invention; and

Fig. 8 is anenlarged view of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 7.

In Fig. 1, there is Yillustrated a body 1 which may be made of any appropriate material, and which conforms in contour to a guitar, or the like. The body 1 serves to support a plurality of tensioned strings 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. These strings are generally in coplanar, parallel arrangement mounted above the upper face of the body 1', as by the aid of bridges 9 and 10. Each of the strings is provided with an anchoring element or knot 11 (Fig. 2), as well as with a tuning'peg 12 arranged in the usual manner; An electromagnetic pick-up device 13 is arranged adjacent the right-hand end of the instrument for the translation of the string vibrations into electrical impulses in a well understood manner.

In the present instance, there are three roller structures 14, 15, and 16, confined below the strings 2 to 8, inclusive,

and which are adapted to roll with respect to the strings` on the upper surface of the body 1. The axesV of the rollers are transverse to the strings. Each roller structure provides a rolling stop for one or a group of strings. Thus, roller 14 cooperates with a single string 2, roller 15 cooperates with strings 3 and 4, and roller 15 cooperates with strings 5, 6, 7, and 8. Movement of the roller structures longitudinally of the strings with which they cooperate adjusts the free vibrating lengths thereof. The strings are grouped for control in groups of one, two, and four, respectively.

Figs. 2 and 4 illustrate roller structure 15, by way of example, and its cooperation with strings 3 and 4. The strings 3- and 4 serve to confine the roller structure 15 against the top surface of the body 1.

The roller structure 15 includes a pair of end rollers 17 and 18' secured to opposite ends of a shaft 19. Between the end rollers 17 and 18, and' mounted on the shaft 19, is a string contacting roller 20. This roller 20 is of smaller diameter than that of the end rollers 17 and 18, and is mounted for free relative angular move ment on the shaft 19. The strings 3 and 4 normally occupy a position slightly closer t0 the top surface of the body 1 than is the case when the roller structure 15 is immediately beneath the strings. Accordingly, the displacement of the strings 3 and 4 by the roller structure 15 is accompanied by a resilient force urging the structure 15 against the body 1. The force of the strings is transmitted through the string-contacting roller 20, the shaft 19, and to the end rollers` 17 and 18 and the body 1.

Movement of the shaft 19 longitudinally of the strings 3 and 4 causes rotation of the end rollers 17 and 18 on the surface of body 1, as well as rotation of the roller 20 on the strings 3 and 4. By this construction, there is no sliding movement of the string-contacting structure with respect to the body 1 or the strings 3 and 4. The instrument is accordingly protected against excessive wear.

Adjustment of the position of the roller structure 15 along the length of the strings 3 and 4, by movement of the shaft 19, determines the free vibrating length of the string cooperating with the pick-up 13, and the harmonic qualities dependent thereon, in a well known manner.

For moving the structure 15, the shaft 19 is mounted for rotation Within the opposite ears of a yoke 21 depending from the structure. The body 1 has a longitudinal aperture 22 beneath the central portion of the yoke 21.. The yoke isy secured to an endless belt or tape 23 (see Fig. 2) extending longitudinally of the strings and within the aperture 22. Movement of the belt 23 accordingly causes movement of the yoke 21 and the roller structure 15.

The belt 23 is mounted on a pulley or roller 24 and a sprocket wheel 25. The sprocket wheel engages a series of apertures 26 in the belt 23 such that rotation of the sprocket wheel 25 causes movement of the belt 23 and the roller structure 15 carried thereby. The pulley 24v 3 and wheel 25 are so located within the body that the belt 23 is substantially flush with the upper surface of the body 1 and, therefore, properly position for cooperation with the roller structure throughout the intended distance of adjustment thereof.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the wheel 25 is mounted on a shaft 27 which may be mounted on the body 1 in any appropriate manner. The shaft carries a gear or pinion that is disposed in a slot 29 extending through the body 1. For rotating the gear 28 and the wheel 25, a pivoted lever 30 is provided that carries a gear segment 31 (Fig. 2) engageable with the gear 25. The lever 30 has an operating surface 32 normally slantingly projecting above the body 1, and depressible into the body 1 through the slot 29.

A pin 33 at the lower right-hand end of the body l, as shown in Fig. 2, pivotally mounts the lever 3i). A coiled spring 34 surrounds the pin 33. One free end of the spring engages the lever 3), and the other engages the upper surface of a cover plate 100 attached to the lower surface of the body 1. Thereby, the spring 34 constantly urges the lever to an uppermost position illustrated. A stop is provided by a pad or cushion 35 fastened beneath a lip 36 of the body 1, and engageable with a projection 37 of the free end of the lever 30. The lever 30 is urged to the position illustrated in Fig. 2; and, by the connection of the lever 30 with the roller structure 15, the roller structure 15 is urged to a limiting position corresponding to maximum free vibrating length of the strings 2 and 3.

The surface 32, extending above the body 1 is readily accessible, and may be operated by a hand or foot, and without delicate linger manipulation. The extent of depression of the lever 32 into the slot 29 of the body determines the vibrating characteristic of the strings 2 and 3.

The roller structures 14 and 16 are similar to structure 15 in operation. However, they are proportioned for cooperation with different numbers of strings. The operating mechanisms for these roller structures 14 and 16 are substantially identical to that described in connection with the roller structure 15. The pin 33 may mount all of the levers 30 as shown in Fig. 1.

In the form illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, a different arrangement of the operating levers is provided. In this instance, the roller structures 38, 39, and 40 are similar to structures 14, 15, and 16. The belts 41 and sprocket wheels 42, 43, and 44 are similar to those previously described in connection with Figs. l to 4. Three levers 45, 46, and 47, similar to those shown in Figs. l to 4, are arranged together on one side of the top surface of the instrument. These levers cooperate to move wheels 42, 43, and 44, respectively.

A telescoping shaft arrangement is provided in order that the levers 45, 46, and 47 may be grouped together at a place displaced from the operating sprocket wheels 42, 43, and 44. The longest shaft 48 is journaled to the body 49 at each end. This shaft carries a gear 50 near the lever side of the instrument for engagement with the gear segment 51 of lever 47. Near the other end of shaft 4S, the sprocket wheel 44 is mounted in a slot 52 of the body 49 for cooperation with its belt 41. A coiled spring 53, surrounding the shaft 48, has an end wheel 44, and has another end engaging the body 48 for urging the mechanism, including lever 47 and roller structure 40, to the position of Fig. 5, wherein the roller structure 40 determines a maximum free vibrating length for its springs, and wherein the lever 47 extends uppermost from the body 49.

A hollow shaft 54 is disposed around the shaft 48, and is located adjacent the wheel 43. The shaft 54 may also be journaled to the body, as at 55. The shaft carries, at one end, the sprocket wheel 43 and, at the lever end thereof, a gear 56 for engagement with a gear segment 57 carried by the lever 46. A coiled spring i gether.

58 engages the body 49 and the wheel 43 at opposite ends of the spring for a purpose similar to that of spring 53.

A hollow shaft 59 circumscribes both shafts 48 and 54, and is located intermediate the wheel 43 and gear 56 carried by shaft 54. The shaft 59 may also be journaled to the body, as at 60. This shaft 59 carries, at one end, the sprocket wheel 42 and, at the lever end thereof, a gear 61 for cooperation with a gear segment 62 carried by the lever 45. A coiled spring 63 is provided as before.

The body 49 is appropriately slotted, as at 64, 65, and 66 for reception and passage of the gear segments 51, 57, and 62, as well as for passage of the free end of the lever remote from the gear structure. Movement of any one or more of the levers 45, 46, or 47 serves to adjust the position of the roller structure 38, 39, or 40, respectively, through the mechanism described.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, a roller structure 67 is provided as before. Between a pulley structure 68 and an operating Wheel 69, there is provided a movable tape or belt, or other flexible element, 70 to which the roller structure 67 is secured. One end of the belt 70 is secured to the periphery of the wheel 69 (see Fig. 8); the other end of the belt 70, on the return side of the pulley 68, is secured to a tension spring 71. The spring 71 is anchored to the body in an appropriate manner, such as by a pin 72. Rotation of the wheel 69 in a clockwise direction causes longitudinal movement of the belt 70 and the roller structure 67 carried thereby, the wheel end of the belt 70 thereby becoming wound upon the periphery of the Wheel 69. Such movement of the belt 70 is opposed resiliently by the spring 71, which normally maintains the belt 70 and roller structure 67 in the position indicated.

For rotating the Wheel 69 on its shaft 72, there is provided a collar 73 adjacent the wheel 69 and which is so secured that the collar 73 and wheel 69 rotate to- A cord 74 is secured to the collar 73 at a place displaced from the axis of movement thereof, the cord 74 being wound upon the exposed peripheral surface thereof. The cord has a free end secured to a projecting portion 75 of an operating lever 76. The end of the projecting portion 75, to which the cord 74 is secured, is

so located that, upon depression of the lever 76, downward movement of the projection 75 causes the cord 74 to move in an unwinding direction with respect to the collar 73. Since the cord 74 is secured to the collar 73, such movement of the free end of the cord 74 causes rotation of the collar 73 and the operating wheel 69 to which it is secured.

The lever 76 is, in other respects, similar to that de` scribed in the other forms. The spring 71, acting upon the lever 76 through the belt 70, operating wheel 69, collar 73, and cord 74, causes the lever 76 normally to assume the position illustrated in Fig. 7.

The inventor claims:

l. In a stringed musical instrument: a body having an elongate slot; a tensioned string mounted along said body and extending parallel to said slot; a roller structure between said string and said body and movable in a direction longitudinally of said string; a member extending7 longitudinally of at least a portion of said string, said member being secured to said roller structure; means mounting said member for longitudinal movement for selectively positioning said roller structure with respect to said string; said mounting means including a pair of elements about which said member extends, one of said elements being rotatable; an operating arm manually manipulatable by the user and pivotally mounted on the body, said arm extending above the body and along the slot, the free end of said arm extending within the body and being angularly movable within the slot; stop means engageablevwith the arm to limit outward movement of the arm from the body, said arm when engaging the stop means having a substantial portion of its length inclined upwardly away from the body; a connection between said arm and said rotatable element for moving said roller structure longitudinally of said string in accordance with the position of said arm, comprising a flexible element having one end secured to said arm, and having the other end secured to said rotatable element at a place displaced from the axis of movement of said rotatable element; and resilient means urging the arm in a direction to engage said stop means.

2. In a stringed musical instrument: a body; a plurality of tensioned strings mounted above and along a surface of said body, said strings extending substantially in a plane and in spaced parallel arrangement; a roller structure for each of the strings respectively, each roller structure being movable longitudinally of its corresponding string respectively; a member for each of the strings respectively, each of said members extending longitudinally of at least a portion of its cooperating string, said roller structures being secured to said members respective.y; a plurality of means mounting said members for independent longitudinal movement for selectively positio-ning said roller structures with respect to said strings; each of said means including a pair of elements about which said member extends, one of said elements being rotatable; a plurality of operating arms cooperating with said rotatable elements respectively, said arms being grouped apart from said strings; and connections between said arms and said rotatable elements respectively, comprising a plurality of telescoping shafts, each of which is secured adjacent one end to said rotatable elements respectively, and each having at the other end a gear structure, and a gear structure carried by each of said arms engageable with the gear structures of each of said shafts respectively.

3. ln a stringed musical instrument: a body having an elongate slot; a tensioned string mounted on the body and extending parallel to said slot; an element movable longitudinally of the string; a string contacting member carried by the element for determining the free vibrating length of the string; means for moving said element, including a iirst gear member; an operator for said moving means, including an arm pivotally mounted on the body; said arm extending above the body along the slot, the fr e end of said arm extending within the body, said arm being angulurly movable within the slot; stop means engageable with the arm to limit upward movement of the arm; resilient means urging the arm in a direction to engage the stop means; said arm, when engaging said stop means, having a substantial portion of its length inclined upwardly away from the body; and a second member carried by the operator and engaging said iirst gear member.

4. ,in a stringed musical instrument: a body; a pair ot' elongate flexible elements having string contacting members; means mounting the flexible elements for independent longitudinal movement, including a pair of spaced coaxial wheels respectively in driving engagement with the elements; a pair of independently rotatable shafts, one of the shafts being hollow, and the other of the shafts extending through the one shaft; corresponding ends of the shafts being connected to the wheels respectively; a first pair of gear members carried by the other corresponding ends of the shafts respectively; a pair of levers mounted in side-by-side relationship for independent angular movement about an axis parallel to the shafts; and a second pair of gear members respectively carried by the levers in engagement respectively with the first pair of gear members.

5. In a stringed musical instrument: a body; a pair of elongate flexible elements having string contacting members; means mounting the flexible elements for independent longitudinal movement, including a pair of spaced coaxial wheels respectively in driving engagement with the elements; a pair of independently rotatable shafts, one of the shafts being hollow, and the other of the shafts extending through the one shaft; corresponding ends of the shafts being connected to the wheels respectively; a first pair of gear members carried by the other corresponding ends of the shafts respectively; a pair of levers mounted in side-byside relationship for independent angular movement about an axis parallel to the shafts; a second pair of gear members respectively carried by the levers in engagement respectively with the first pair of gear members; and a pair of coil springs extending about the shafts for urging the shafts in one angular direction.

6. in a stringed muscial instrument: a body; a pair of elongate flexible elements having string contacting members; means mounting the flexible elements for independent longitudinal movement, including a pair of spaced coaxial wheels respectively in driving engagement with the elements; a pair of independently rotatable shafts, one of the shafts being hollow, and the other of the shafts extending through the one shaft; corresponding ends of the shafts being connected to the wheels respectively; a first pair of gear members carried by the other corresponding ends of the shafts respectively; a pair of levers mounted in side-by-side relationship for independent angular movement about an axis parallel to the shafts; a second pair of gear members respectively carried by the levers in engagement respectively with the first pair of gear members; stop means determining corresponding limiting positions of the levers; and a pair of coil springs extending about the shafts respectively and engaging the wheels for urging the Wheels, shafts, and levers angularly in a direction corresponding to the limiting positions of said levers.

7. In a stringed musical instrument: a body having an elongate slot; a tensioned string mounted on the body and extending parallel to said slot; an element movable longitudinally of the string; a string-contacting member carried by the element for determining the free Vibrating length of the string; an arm pivotally mounted on the body and extending above the body along the slot, the free end of said arm extending within the body, said arm being angularly movable within the slot; stop means engageable wtih the arm to limit upward movement of the arm; means forming a coupling between the arm and the element for moving the element in accordance with the position of said arm; and resilient means urging the arm in a direction to engage the stop means; said arm, when engaging the stop means, having a substantial portion of its length inclined upwardly away from the body.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 134,679 Knaiil lan. 7, 1873 743,054 Bergren Nov. 3, 1903 1,823,683 Gardner Sept. 15, 1931 1,864,690 Guibeaud June 28, 1932 2,405,316 McBride Aug. 6, 1946 2,483,617 Bradley Oct. 4, 1949 2,574,880 McBride Nov. 13, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 662,108 France Mar. 18, 1929 312,325 Great Britain Aug. 25, 1930 

